Reading List: Best of 2020

Its hard to say that 2020 was good for anything, BUT, it was a great year for books! I was particularly excited to find more diverse authors this year – something much needed in the outdoor book world! If you’d like to see all of the new books on my radar this year, you can check out my Bookshop. If you are new to Bookshop, it is a great way to order online and support your favorite independent bookstores. I get a little kickback as well. Here are my picks:

Migrations

by Charlotte McConaghy

This book tore my heart out and ripped in into a million pieces – and I loved every single second of it! It is the story of Franny, a woman who can’t seem to stay in one place. She decides that she wants to follow the migration of what is thought to be the last flock of arctic terns on a fishing boat. Set against the backdrop of a world in quiet peril where species are disappearing regularly, Franny is full of angst and secrets. Her secrets are revealed in a way that speaks to the nature of human beings, past trauma, and how the past can deeply affect our lives. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time!

Fiction // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Miracle Country

by Kendra Atleework

This beautifully written memoir is set against the backdrop of the Owen’s Valley desert in California. Kendra’s family lived a simple life until her mother died when she was sixteen. Then it was up to her father to keep the family together. Kendra left the area as an adult but was drawn back to place she was raised and later returns. This book speaks to the pull of place and history in the vein of Mary Austin and Terry Tempest Williams. I especially enjoyed listening to the audio version.

Non-fiction (Memoir) // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Nature Obscura

by Kelly Brenner

This delightful dive into nature brought me so much joy during the quarantine days. Kelly paints a vivid picture of the diverse and exciting world in our urban backyards of Seattle. She climbs onto her roof to collect tardigrades in the roof moss and discovers slime mold under seemingly benign leaf piles. She follows a flock of crows to their nesting spot in winter and marvels over dragonflies. Her tone is quiet and thoughtful, yet the enthusiasm she has for the often overlooked petri dish of a city shines through. I will never think of my backyard in the same way.

Non-fiction // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Writing Wild

by Kathryn Aalto

This is a fantastic look at 25 women who have been writing about nature and our relationship to it for over a century. The featured authors are presented in chronological order from the romantic journals of Dorothy Wordsworth (yes, William’s sister) to Elizabeth Rush who looks at the future state of the environment and many more in between like Nan Shepard, Mary Austin, and Mary Oliver. Kathryn doesn’t just write about these amazing and often overlooked women but adds a personal touch through her travels and relationships with the women. This is a must read for anyone, like me, who loves reading women’s stories about the outdoors.

Non-fiction // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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World of Wonders

by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

This collection of essays feels like a breath of fresh air. Revolving around an animal or plant, each essay is a slice of Aimee’s life as a brown woman who has traveled and lived all over but is rooted in nature. Aimee is a poet and clearly gifted writer, but her prose is not complicated or wordy. She masterfully crafts each essay to get at universal themes that everyone can relate to. One of my favorite essays is about how she would go on first dates and tell the men about her obsession with corpse flowers just to see their reaction. Spoiler alert: her future husband responded well.

Non-fiction (Essays) // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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The Story of More

by Hope Jahren

I was excited to see Hope’s name after loving Lab Girl and couldn’t wait to hear what this brilliant scientist had to say about climate change. What she does really well in this book is explaining the vast scale of the issue in a way that is concise and can be digested. While she does not sugarcoat the realities of the destruction that climate change has and will wreak on the planet, she does provide actions that we can take to prevent the worst case scenarios. I recommend this for anyone who, like myself, has been overwhelmed with the information and science of climate change and is looking for a what to do next.

Non-fiction // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Latitudes of Longing

by Shubhangi Swarup

This is one of those sweeping novels that will stay with you for a long time. Set against the backdrop of India, it is an epic story of love across generations and the continent. Steeped in mythology and magical realism, the story begins with a naturalist who lives on an island with his new wife who talks to ghosts. The story unfolds over generations and shifts points of view from the naturalist to a mother grieving over the imprisonment of her revolutionary son to a young scientist aiding in a war over a glacier. Through it all, there is a love that persists and what I can only describe as a deep feeling of connection to the earth. This book really blew my mind and left a deep impression with me. I really hope to read more from this wonderful author.

Fiction // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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The Bear

by Andrew Krivak

I was nervous to read about the end of the world during a pandemic, but I was unexpectedly surprised by this slim little novel. It is about a young girl and her father who are the last people on earth. They live off the land and her father is teaching her everything he knows until there is an accident and the girl is on her own. A bear comes to aid and helps her find her way. This is a beautiful story that does not dwell on the end of the world, but rather emphasizes the beauty of life and humanity’s deep relationship to wildlife.

Fiction // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Wandering in Strange Lands

by Morgan Jerkins

This is a powerful memoir that really opened my eyes to how the meaning of “outdoors” is very different for everyone. Morgan is a black American with family who moved across the country during the great migration of the first part of the 20th century. She sets out on a road trip to the lands of her ancestors to learn about the culture and what being black in America means. On her journey she digs into stereotypes like why black people don’t swim and the traditions of voodoo in New Orleans and how decades and centuries of displacement and disenfranchisement has contributed to and shaped these narratives. I’ve made it a priority this year to read more black and indigenous stories from their own mouths and to listen and learn. If you are wanting to listen and learn as well, I highly recommend this one.

Non-fiction (Memoir) // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Vesper Flights

by Helen Macdonald

I adored Helen Macdonald’s memoir H is for Hawk about training a goshawk in the grief of losing her father, so I was very much looking forward to her collection of essays. I was not disappointed and may have even enjoyed this one more than her previous book. These essays span a range of topics from being a young naturalist to learning from a refugee and traveling to Argentina with a group studying climate change. Throughout, though, there is always a theme of observing wildlife (and birds, of course) and nature. The essays feel intimate and I felt like I was a lucky fan who got a chance to get inside the brain of this wonderful person. I particularly recommend the audio book as she reads it herself.

Non-Fiction (Essays) // Published: 2020 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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*This post contains affiliate links. However, I always encourage finding books at your local library or favorite indie book store.

Reading List: Best of 2019

Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home

by Heather “Anish” Anderson

Heather Anderson is a force to be reckoned with. Since 2003, she has hiked a staggering 28,000 miles and was named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2019. She’s set records on the Pacific Crest Trail, Arizona Trail and Appalachian Trail and has completed a “Double Triple Crown of Backpacking” hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail each twice. In this breezy memoir, Heather focuses on her 2013 record-breaking thru-hike on the PCT. She speaks not just to the physical hardships on the trail (thirst was an obvious one) but to the emotional ones as well like fear and loneliness.

PNW Author // Non-Fiction (Memoir) // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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The Sun Is a Compass

by Caroline Van Hemert

Caroline, an ornithologist who studied chickadees, became disillusioned with lab work and decided to embark on a journey across Alaska with her husband. Like the birds she studied, she felt the urge to migrate back to the state where she grew up. They rowed, skied, walked and paddled over 4000 miles through the Inside Passage, the Yukon, the Arctic Coast and the Brooks Range. The arduous expedition was not without harrowing days where they did nothing but survive, but even with the hardships the feat brought the couple closer together and reminded the author of her deep love and connection with nature.

Non-Fiction (Memoir) // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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She Explores

by Gale Straub

I’ve been a huge fan of Gale Straub and her She Explores website and podcast for years. Gale has dedicated herself to sharing the stories of women in the outdoors. Whether its climbers, hikers, artists, or road-tripping nomads, she shares the stories of trials and accomplishments to inspire others and assure us that we are not alone. This beautiful book celebrates a diverse range of women who are taking charge of their lives and doing what they are passionate about. Gale also includes little ‘how-to’ sections to get started in the outdoors. I can’t recommend this book enough for any adventurous woman out there!

Non-Fiction // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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The River

by Peter Heller

When two old college buddies head out for a multi-day rafting trip, they get more than they bargained for. They encounter a couple fighting and then the next day find the woman unconscious and alone along the river with a head injury. They bring her with them and transition into survival mode to keep her alive while keeping on the lookout for whoever did this to her. To make matters worse, they begin smelling smoke and discover that they are being followed by a raging wildfire. The mystery keeps the pages turning, but what I really love about this book is the dynamic between the two friends with very different personalities.

Fiction (Mystery / Thriller) // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Hollow Kingdom

by Kira Jane Buxton

Does the sounds of ‘zombie apocalypse in Seattle told from the perspective of a pet crow’ make your eyes light up? If so, this book is definitely for you. When ST (the pet crow) discovers that his human (Big Jim) is turning all weird and zombie-like, he decides that he must find the cure. He sets out with Big Jim’s other pet, a dumb-witted dog called Dennis, only to find that all the humans in Seattle have turned. Now ST must use his knowledge (developed solely from TV-watching) to survive in the wild and figure out what is going on and how he can get his human back to normal. This book with its ridiculous premise made me laugh out loud so much and by the end I fell in love with the big-hearted, Cheeto-eating crow.

PNW Author // Fiction (Dystopia) // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Underland: A Deep Time Journey

by Robert MacFarlane

Ever wonder what is going on under your feet? After visiting the heights of mountains in his previous books, Robert decides to take to the underground. He travels through geologic time into caves and crypts while exploring how the darkness of the underworld has affected humans since cave paintings were first drawn in pre-historic times. He also touches on the mind-boggling systems of roots and funghi and how they interact and communicate with each other in an environment that is hard to understand. As always, Robert MacFarlane weaves his narrative into a story of discovery and fascinating science.

Non-Fiction // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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The Salt Path

by Raynor Winn

After Raynor’s husband, Moth, is diagnosed with a terminal illness and their home is taken away from them after a long battle with an old friend, the couple decides to take to the trails. They will see how far they can make it on the South West Coast Path, a 630-mile trail along the shoreline of Britain. Along the way they battle the ups and downs of full-time walking and Moth’s fluctuating health to being cast off as bums. You will quickly become engrossed in this sweet couple’s journey as they find that there are many definitions of the word “home.”

Non-Fiction (Memoir) // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Rough Magic

by Lara Prior-Palmer

At the age of nineteen, Lara discovered the Mongol Derby, an annual feat of endurance across 1000 km of Mongolia on twenty-five wild horses inspired by a messenger trail used in the time of Genghis Khan. She was determined to participate and signed up on a whim with no training or preparation. What follows is a miraculous story of grit and determination over 10 days of terrifying weather, a mysterious land, and stubborn ponies. She not only completed the race that few have endured, but she became the first woman to win it in 2013. Lara’s lyrical writing breathes depth into her experience written several years later with time for reflection. I could not put it down.

Non-Fiction (Memoir) // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Erosion: Essays of Undoing

by Terry Tempest Williams

These days it feels like everything is eroding: our public lands, our democracy, women’s rights, and the earth itself, both literally and figuratively in this time of climate change. In this collection of essays Terry Tempest Williams reflects on these and other difficulties in her personal life. I am usually weary of books that focus on politics and current issues, but Williams brings you in like a confidante and maternal figure, pouring her heart out for all to see. Ultimately this book is a nudging call to action and a comfort in this time of uncertainty. I loved her previously published memoir about the loss of her mother, When Women Were Birds, and now I am determined to read everything she’s written.

Non-Fiction (Essays) // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Inland: A Novel

by Tea Obreht

This haunting take on a western is like nothing else I’ve ever read. Its the story of a frontierswoman in Arizona waiting with her youngest son, who talks of a mysterious beast he sees at night, for her husband who went off to bring back water. The other story is about a former outlaw making his way west on a camel who is haunted by the ghosts of his friends who have died along the way. Inspired by true voices in this time that are rarely shared, Tea Obreht paints a stunning picture of surviving in the west and the things that haunt us. I loved Tea’s debut novel, The Tiger’s Wife, and could not wait to get this one in my hands – it did not disappoint!

Fiction // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Orange World and Other Stories

by Karen Russell

She may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I do love me some Karen Russell. Her latest collection of disturbing stories starts off with a duo of girlfriends escaping the depression and attending a special grand opening party at a lodge in the mountains. Its dark and snowy when they arrive at the ski lift that will deliver them to the lodge but when they arrive, the party is not what is seems and they soon find themselves fighting for their lives. The title story depicts a new mother, desperate to keep her baby safe, who agrees to breastfeed the devil in return for safety. Karen Russell’s stories are absurd and outlandish yet they manage to reveal true feelings that are often just below the surface. She is truly a genius and I can’t wait for more.

PNW Author // Fiction (Short Stories) // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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The Word for Woman Is Wilderness

by Abi Andrews

Erin, a nineteen year old with wanderlust, sets off from her home in England to follow in the footsteps of Chris McCandless of Into the Wild fame. She wants to prove that women can also take to the wilderness and live on their own. She creates a documentary along the way to explore why it is only men who have the freedom to go off on their own based on a masculine idea of shunning society and survivalism. She finds her way through Iceland, Greenland, and Canada by working locally for money and hitching rides. She makes it to Alaska and lives in a remote cabin hunting for her food. She knows she can do better than McCandless because she is better prepared. More philosophical than adventure story, this original and brooding novel explores the meaning of feminism in the wilderness.

Fiction // Published: 2019 // My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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*This post contains affiliate links. However, I always encourage finding books at your local library or favorite indie book store.

Reading List: Best of 2018

There were SO MANY great books published this year, I had a hard time choosing which ones to share with you! There is a little science, a tad of whimsy, a few badass women, and a tiny bit of mystery all steeped in nature and a sense of place in these book selections. I hope you love them as much as I do! I would love to hear if you’ve read any of these or if you have a favorite that’s not on the list. Happy reading!

Forest Bathing by Dr Qing Li

This is your guidebook to bliss. Dr Li takes you on a step-by-step journey through the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. Shinrin-yoku was developed in the 1980’s as a form of medicine to immerse oneself completely in the forest and reap the benefits of our natural world. There is no destination or goal except to fully engage all the senses, to connect with the nature around you and to get fully grounded in the earth. I love that forest bathing can be practiced anywhere, even in small parks in the city. In this busy and distracting world, I know I could use a little forest therapy.

Lands of Lost Borders by Kate Harris

Kate Harris had big ambitions since she was a kid. She was obsessed with big, famous explorers like Magellan, Darwin, and Marco Polo. She studied science and math and was determined to be the ultimate explorer, a Mars astronaut. But when a trial run in the deserts of the southwest made her realize that what she really loved was right here on earth, she decided to follow in one of her beloved explorer’s footsteps. Marco Polo traveled the Silk Road from Turkey to India and Nepal in medieval times, a journey that seems almost incomprehensible these days. Kate set out with a friend to travel the famous route by bicycle. This memoir of crazy weather, long cycling days, and endless red tape explores not just sketchy international borders, but also those inner boundaries that are rarely clearly defined.

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

I love a good story about a house and its history. This one is about a house in New Jersey that, in contemporary times, is falling apart, just like its inhabitants. The aging couple is deep in debt, both recently losing their jobs and livelihood, all while supporting an ailing parent and a grieving son. The other story in this book is set in the same house a century before and tells of a family with a teacher finding resistance in teaching Darwin’s revolutionary science. Barbara explores the repercussions of building on unsettled ground in these stories that reflect our current times. For me, this novel reflected a little too much of the current times in the beginning, but the stories are told with the grace and wisdom that only Barbara Kingsolver can deliver and ultimately she leaves the reader hopeful.

It Happened Like This by Adrienne Lindholm

This is not the first memoir about a twenty-something moving to Alaska to follow their dream, but it is the most compelling one I’ve read in a long time. Like many of us, Adrienne felt a strong pull to wild places from a young age and decided to do whatever it takes to live and work in one. She found work in Alaska and joined a group of young “outsiders” finding their way in an unforgiving landscape. My favorite thing about this book is that it’s really a book about creating community in a new place and putting down roots, something I can relate to. Not to mention Adrienne’s voice is honest, refreshing and oh so relatable. If that doesn’t sell this book, then I mean, just look at that cover!

End of the Rope by Jan Redford

Jan grew up admiring men who climbed mountains and accomplished seemingly unattainable goals. But instead of wanted to be with these men, she wanted to be them. Fueled by rebellion against her parents including her alcoholic father, she set out to do what few women did in the 1980’s, she climbed with the men. Inevitably this led her into reckless relationships with reckless men, but it also helped her to find what she was ultimately capable of, including a relationship with a man that would become the love of her life. Most memoirs end here, but Jan digs into the difficulties that come after the finding love part. She ended up having a child at a young age and struggled with little money, little support, and an ambition to get a degree and fulfilling job while grappling for balance between her adventurous and dangerous climbing life and being a mother. This is the writing of a woman who is brutally honest yet accepting of the mistakes of her younger self, and for this I greatly admire her.

Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield

I literally gasped a few months ago when I saw this book. First of all, I loved Diane Setterfield’s novel The Thirteenth Tale, a gothic story set in the English countryside about a mysterious author and a young biographer’s quest to find out the truth about her past. This one is set in an old inn on the banks of the river Thames. The inn is full of stories and storytellers weaving tales over the years, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. When an injured man arrives at the inn carrying a dead girl who comes back to life, the town is determined to weed through the rumors and stories to find out who she is. This book reads like a fairy tale set in the dark, cold winter and is oozing with mystery, folklore, and myth. I could not get enough of this book!

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

When a popular man is found dead in the depths of the marshland, the town suspects the reclusive “marsh girl.” But as we learn more about this girl, we find out that all is not what it seems. Set in the marshlands of North Carolina in the 1960’s, the young girl’s harrowing story unfolds in alternating chapters with the detective’s investigation. The marsh girl, Kya, has lived on her own for years, finding ways to feed herself and make a little money for grits and gas for her boat. She befriends a local boy who helps her learn to read and she opens herself up to new opportunities, but are the opportunities truly what’s good for her, and will she survive the accusations? I really love this book and I’m so excited to hear rumors that Reese Witherspoon is making it into a movie.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

When thirteen-year-old Leni learns that her father wants to move the family to remote Alaska, she is excited. She believes it will be the fresh start that her father, a recent Vietnam veteran, desperately needs. He is suffering from PTSD and has taken to drinking as therapy. This is not the first time the family has moved to get a fresh start and as exciting as this move may be, the family also quickly finds out how difficult it will be to survive the winter in the remote Alaskan wilderness in the 1970’s. They need to fix up their shack, plant a garden, and cache enough food for the winter. The hard work provides distraction throughout the summer, but Leni is worried about how her father with depressive tendencies will survive the dark and cold Alaskan winter. 

Rough Beauty by Karen Auvinen

Destined to be a solitary writer living in the remote Colorado Rockies, Karen enjoyed her independent life with just her husky named Elvis to keep her company. But when her little cabin in the woods burnt to the ground along with all of her possessions and, maybe more importantly, all of her writing, she must rely on the help of the nearby town to get back on her feet. As Karen begins to open up to her community she begins to rethink her solitary lifestyle. This is a beautifully written memoir with a strong poetic voice that will remind you what really matters in this life.

Two more of my favorite books of the year are Circe by Madeline Miller and What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine. You can find these on my Witchy Vibes Reading List.

*This post contains affiliate links. However, I always encourage finding books at your local library or favorite indie book store.

Reading List: Best of 2017

It’s that time of year again! Here are my favorite new outdoor books released this year.

 

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
This enchanting retelling of an old fairytale will have you wishing for snow. It is the story of Vasya, a young girl living in the medieval Russian wilderness where winter rarely releases its grip on the land. She loves sitting by the fire with her siblings listening to their nurse’s old tales. As Vasya grows up, she finds that she has special powers that others do not and more and more, her beloved fairytales become reality. On top of all that, she must make a decision between marrying a man of her father’s choosing or entering a convent. This is my favorite book I read this year and I’m so excited that this will be a trilogy. The second book, The Girl in the Tower, is now available, although this book can thoroughly be enjoyed on its own.

 

 

 

 

 

The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
We all know that time spent in the outdoors makes us feel good, but could it be essential to our health? Florence Williams dives deep into the science of the effects of nature on the brain. She travels the world from Korea to Scotland to find ways that people use nature for healing and therapy. She finds that time spent in the outdoors can help people with depression, PTSD, ADHD, and many other physical and psychological ailments. And she has good news; it doesn’t take much time in the outdoors to experience these benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
For years, police in a small town in Maine had been looking for a thief. The thief was pillaging through cottages and cabins, never disturbing anything or hurting anyone, only taking things like books, food, and warm clothing. There was talk of a hermit who lived in the woods nearby, but no one had ever seen him or could figure out how he survived the harsh Maine winters. The story that follows is truly extraordinary. Christopher Knight left his home in 1986 to live in the solitude of the woods for 27 years before police arrested him for burglary. In those years he only ever saw a few people and didn’t say a word. After his arrest, he returned to society which had changed greatly over the years. All he wanted was to be completely alone, but is it possible in this day and age? Should he have just been left alone instead of being forced back into society? Michael Finkel brings Knight’s remarkable story to life and highlights not just the strangeness, but the humanity of this remarkable man.

 

 

 

 

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown
The wilderness doesn’t always have to be in the woods or in the mountains. Sometimes it can be our own communities and neighborhoods. Brene Brown explains, “The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.” In her latest book, Brene Brown encourages us all to be our own true selves and to have the courage to stand alone when necessary. In this day and age, it is easy to stay within the comfort of our ideological bubbles, but Brown wants us to brave the wilderness of uncertainty and criticism to reach across ideological lines and challenge what we believe about others and ourselves. This is a timely call for civility when it feels like the world is full of chaos.

 

 

 

 

 

The Push by Tommy Caldwell
Tommy Caldwell is probably most famous for his 19 day climb up Yosemite’s 3000 foot vertical Dawn Wall in 2015. But his life and early climbing career is even more interesting than this seemingly impossible feet. He was raised by his mountain-guide, weight-lifting father and was taught to always push the limits to the max. Tommy became a climbing prodigy and won many competitions, often as the youngest climber. He was destined to become a great climber, but in his early twenties he suffered many tragedies. He travelled to Kyrgyzstan with a climbing team and was taken hostage by militants in the middle of a remote mountainous region. He later lost his index finger in a freak accident and his wife and main climbing partner, struggling to cope with the PTSD of their hostage situation, left him. But even with these obstacles, he kept pushing himself. This is a raw and thoughtful story of resilience, love, and determination.

 

 

 

 

There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk
When Swedish-born Linda Akeson McGurk moved to Indiana with her husband and two young children, she felt very different. She was the only one walking with a stroller in the cold winter weather, people even pulled over to ask if she needed a ride. In the summer she was fined for allowing her kids to swim in a nearby creek. This was much different than how she grew up in Sweden where parents let their babies outside in freezing weather to nap, as recommended by their doctors, and where children spent more time outside playing at school than in the classroom. McGurk wondered if the Swedish way of raising children would lead to better lives for her own girls, so she took them back to Sweden for six months to see for yourself. The differences between her old and new cultures are quite drastic and emphasize the need to get our children outside more, no matter the weather.

 

 

 

 

 

A Sideways Look at Clouds by Maria Mudd Ruth
Maria Mudd Ruth’s enthusiasm is contagious. She already got me to care about a silly little not-so-smart bird called a marbled murrelet in her book, Rare Bird. Now her latest book has me obsessed with clouds. Each chapter of the book takes a closer look at the ten words that are used most often to define clouds: a visible mass of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the earth. She breaks down what each of these words mean and makes the science easy to understand while also having a great sense of humor. She’s not afraid of asking the big questions, like why is the sky blue? She even gets her very own meteorologist from NOAA to answer all of her probing questions. I know I am a bit of a nerd, but you guys, this book about clouds is downright riveting and I could not put it down!

 

 

 

 

 

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang
This is the story of an orphan boy named Weylyn Grey who was raised by wolves, can control the weather, and has a pet horned pig named Merlin. Need I say more? Weylyn’s story is told from the perspective of the people who knew him and were affected by his unusual presence. Never quite fitting into his surroundings, he moved around the country escaping messes he always seemed to get himself into. But no matter how people treated him, he always kept his optimism and eagerness to help others. This heart warming tale is a must read for anyone who has ever felt different or like the odd one out. Haven’t we all?

 

 

 

 

 

Reading List: Best of 2016

As I sit here with my newborn baby girl, I realized I can’t let the end of the year go by without posting my favorite outdoor books of the year. I could say that the end of the year snuck up on me, but pregnancy has the magical power of slowing down time, especially in the third trimester. But I can say that my reading has skewed a bit toward Babylit, S is for Salmon and books that tell you all the things that can go wrong while delivering a baby. But here and there I got in a little outdoor time and a few outdoor books to satisfy my cravings. Here are my favorites from 2016.

 

To The Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
When I found out that a new book by Eowyn Ivey was coming out this year, I marked it my calendar. Her novel, The Snow Child, is one of my very favorites and this newest historical novel, also set in her home state of Alaska, does not disappoint. Set in 1885, Colonel Allen Forrester leaves his pregnant wife, Sophie, behind to embark on a mission to explore the Wolverine River valley, an uncharted part of the Alaskan Territory. It is a difficult and trying journey as they map the valley and collect local knowledge from reluctant native tribes. With little news of her husband’s well being, Sophie distracts herself by learning photography. The intertwined stories are told in journal and letter forms with lovely photos throughout. In typical Ivey fashion, there is just a hint of magical realism that is oh so satisfying. I really enjoyed living just for a little bit in Ivey’s adventurous and rugged Alaska again.

 

 

 

 

The Hour of Land by Terry Tempest Williams
Terry Tempest Williams’ essays about her experiences in our National Parks, need I say more? She shares deeply personal stories of her time with her father in the Grand Tetons, thoughts of her brother in the arctic of Alaska and ponders the state of racism in our country while she visits Gettysburg. Her brilliant and humble voice breathes life into these places and reminds us why they are so important. At a time when our Parks are under-funded and over-visited, this book gives us much needed wisdom and perspective. Terry Tempest Williams is one of the most important writers and activists of our time, and we are so lucky she gave us this book.

 

 

 

 

Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
I so loved visiting Hope Jahren’s world for just a little while. She is a renowned scientist who grew up exploring her father’s science lab while he was a professor. She found her comfortable space, a place where she felt welcome and safe. So naturally she set out to become a scientist and have a lab of her own. But years of budget cuts and writing grant proposals wore on her and breakdowns were frequent. She enlists an eccentric friend to take on her dream with her and they travel the country in search of a home base. Hope’s memoir is one that seeps into your bones and never leaves you. I highly recommend listening to the audio book, read by the author herself, for a more intimate experience. I adored every minute of it.

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman
Braverman left her California home at age 18 to learn to drive sled dogs in Norway. She fell in love with the Arctic amidst her fears and reservations of being a young woman in a man’s world. When she later worked as a tour guide on an Alaskan glacier, she braved whiteouts, unprepared guests, and an abusive relationship with a fellow guide. This memoir is a fast paced, yet quiet and reserved, coming of age story of a resilient and determined woman who found her place in the white world of the North.

 

 

 

 

 

Fast Into The Night by Debbie Clarke Moderow

Debbie fell in love with mushing after a friend gave her an old sled dog, Salt, for a pet during a hard time in her life. She was in her forties and a mother of two when she finally decided to run the Iditarod. She had experience running other races and had the full support of her family, all mushers in their own right, but unfortunately had to scratch on her first try. Two years later, Debbie was back on the trail with her memorable dogs Kanga, Juliet, Lil’ Su, Piney, Creek, Zeppy, Nacho and Taiga. This time, her tenacity and resilience got her to the finish line on Nome. This is a beautiful story of love and dedication between a family and their dogs.

 

 

 

 

On Trails by Robert Moor
Moor has hiked many miles on the trails and in 2009, he completed the Appalachian Trail. But this is not just a memoir of his trips, it’s a historical and philosophical look at why trails are formed, how they form and what motivates beings to want to travel them. Over seven years, he traveled the world to visit well-beaten trails to answer these questions. He visits ancient trails that span continents formed by the first organisms to migrate as well as well-beaten Native American trails and trails that served as precursors to our highway system. I greatly enjoyed reading this unique and quizative look into my favorite pastime and appreciated Moor’s brilliant and thought-provoking writing.

 

 

 

 

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
This book blew my mind from the very beginning. Wohlleben pulls together the latest scientific research to make a case that trees are social beings and work together to create livable forests. He argues that trees communicate with each other, share nutrients and even warn each other of danger. He says that trees can be friends and share their space by growing their branches away from each other and they even talk to each other through their roots. I have to admit, it all sounds a bit magical. But, if you’ve ever walked through a forest and felt its energy, you might just recognize the magic.

 

 

 

 

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